Predict Wave Behavior - Middle School Physical Science
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What is reflection in terms of wave behavior at a boundary between materials?
What is reflection in terms of wave behavior at a boundary between materials?
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A wave bounces back into the original medium. Some wave energy returns when hitting a boundary between materials.
A wave bounces back into the original medium. Some wave energy returns when hitting a boundary between materials.
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What is refraction in terms of wave behavior at a boundary between materials?
What is refraction in terms of wave behavior at a boundary between materials?
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Bending due to a change in wave speed. Waves bend when entering materials with different speeds.
Bending due to a change in wave speed. Waves bend when entering materials with different speeds.
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Which wave property must change for refraction to occur at a boundary?
Which wave property must change for refraction to occur at a boundary?
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Wave speed must change. Different speeds in different materials cause the wave to bend.
Wave speed must change. Different speeds in different materials cause the wave to bend.
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What happens to the direction of a wave entering a slower medium at an angle?
What happens to the direction of a wave entering a slower medium at an angle?
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It bends toward the normal. Slower speed causes the wave to bend closer to perpendicular.
It bends toward the normal. Slower speed causes the wave to bend closer to perpendicular.
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What happens to the direction of a wave entering a faster medium at an angle?
What happens to the direction of a wave entering a faster medium at an angle?
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It bends away from the normal. Faster speed causes the wave to bend farther from perpendicular.
It bends away from the normal. Faster speed causes the wave to bend farther from perpendicular.
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What is the normal line in a refraction diagram?
What is the normal line in a refraction diagram?
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A line perpendicular to the boundary surface. Used as reference for measuring angles of incidence and refraction.
A line perpendicular to the boundary surface. Used as reference for measuring angles of incidence and refraction.
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What is transmission in terms of wave behavior at a boundary between materials?
What is transmission in terms of wave behavior at a boundary between materials?
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A wave passes into the new material. Some wave energy continues forward when hitting a boundary.
A wave passes into the new material. Some wave energy continues forward when hitting a boundary.
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What happens to wave speed when a wave enters a material where it travels faster?
What happens to wave speed when a wave enters a material where it travels faster?
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Wave speed increases in the new material. Waves travel at different speeds in different materials based on their properties.
Wave speed increases in the new material. Waves travel at different speeds in different materials based on their properties.
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What happens to wavelength when wave speed increases but frequency stays constant?
What happens to wavelength when wave speed increases but frequency stays constant?
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Wavelength increases. Since $v = f\lambda$ and frequency is constant, wavelength must increase with speed.
Wavelength increases. Since $v = f\lambda$ and frequency is constant, wavelength must increase with speed.
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What happens to wavelength when wave speed decreases but frequency stays constant?
What happens to wavelength when wave speed decreases but frequency stays constant?
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Wavelength decreases. Since $v = f\lambda$ and frequency is constant, wavelength must decrease with speed.
Wavelength decreases. Since $v = f\lambda$ and frequency is constant, wavelength must decrease with speed.
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What happens to frequency when a wave crosses into a different material?
What happens to frequency when a wave crosses into a different material?
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Frequency stays the same. The source determines frequency, which doesn't change when crossing boundaries.
Frequency stays the same. The source determines frequency, which doesn't change when crossing boundaries.
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Which property of a medium mainly determines the speed of sound: density or color?
Which property of a medium mainly determines the speed of sound: density or color?
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Density (and elasticity), not color. Sound speed depends on how tightly packed and elastic the material is.
Density (and elasticity), not color. Sound speed depends on how tightly packed and elastic the material is.
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Which material generally lets sound travel faster: a solid or a gas?
Which material generally lets sound travel faster: a solid or a gas?
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A solid. Particles in solids are tightly packed, allowing faster vibration transfer.
A solid. Particles in solids are tightly packed, allowing faster vibration transfer.
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Which material generally lets sound travel slowest: a solid, liquid, or gas?
Which material generally lets sound travel slowest: a solid, liquid, or gas?
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A gas. Gas particles are far apart, making vibration transfer slowest.
A gas. Gas particles are far apart, making vibration transfer slowest.
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What happens to a transverse wave’s speed on a string if the tension increases?
What happens to a transverse wave’s speed on a string if the tension increases?
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Wave speed increases. Higher tension makes the string return to position faster, increasing wave speed.
Wave speed increases. Higher tension makes the string return to position faster, increasing wave speed.
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What happens to a transverse wave’s speed on a string if the string’s mass per length increases?
What happens to a transverse wave’s speed on a string if the string’s mass per length increases?
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Wave speed decreases. Heavier strings move more slowly, reducing wave propagation speed.
Wave speed decreases. Heavier strings move more slowly, reducing wave propagation speed.
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Identify the correct statement: higher absorption causes amplitude to increase or decrease?
Identify the correct statement: higher absorption causes amplitude to increase or decrease?
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Amplitude decreases. Energy loss from absorption reduces wave height.
Amplitude decreases. Energy loss from absorption reduces wave height.
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If a wave enters a new material and its speed halves, what happens to its wavelength (same $f$)?
If a wave enters a new material and its speed halves, what happens to its wavelength (same $f$)?
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Wavelength halves. From $v=f\lambda$: if $v$ halves and $f$ stays constant, $\lambda$ halves.
Wavelength halves. From $v=f\lambda$: if $v$ halves and $f$ stays constant, $\lambda$ halves.
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A wave has $f=10\ \text{Hz}$ and $v=20\ \text{m/s}$. What is $\lambda$ in that material?
A wave has $f=10\ \text{Hz}$ and $v=20\ \text{m/s}$. What is $\lambda$ in that material?
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$\lambda=2\ \text{m}$. Using $\lambda=\frac{v}{f}=\frac{20}{10}=2$ m.
$\lambda=2\ \text{m}$. Using $\lambda=\frac{v}{f}=\frac{20}{10}=2$ m.
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What is the relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength: $v$, $f$, and $\lambda$?
What is the relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength: $v$, $f$, and $\lambda$?
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$v=f\lambda$. Wave speed equals frequency times wavelength.
$v=f\lambda$. Wave speed equals frequency times wavelength.
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What happens to frequency when a wave enters a new material (new medium)?
What happens to frequency when a wave enters a new material (new medium)?
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Frequency stays the same. The source determines frequency, not the medium.
Frequency stays the same. The source determines frequency, not the medium.
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What quantity usually changes when a wave enters a new material: speed, frequency, or both?
What quantity usually changes when a wave enters a new material: speed, frequency, or both?
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Speed changes. Material properties affect wave propagation speed.
Speed changes. Material properties affect wave propagation speed.
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What happens to wavelength when a wave enters a material where its speed is lower?
What happens to wavelength when a wave enters a material where its speed is lower?
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Wavelength decreases. Since $v=f\lambda$ and $f$ is constant, slower $v$ means smaller $\lambda$.
Wavelength decreases. Since $v=f\lambda$ and $f$ is constant, slower $v$ means smaller $\lambda$.
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What happens to wavelength when a wave enters a material where its speed is higher?
What happens to wavelength when a wave enters a material where its speed is higher?
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Wavelength increases. Since $v=f\lambda$ and $f$ is constant, faster $v$ means larger $\lambda$.
Wavelength increases. Since $v=f\lambda$ and $f$ is constant, faster $v$ means larger $\lambda$.
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Which option best describes refraction: change in direction, change in frequency, or change in amplitude?
Which option best describes refraction: change in direction, change in frequency, or change in amplitude?
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Change in direction (bending) in a new material. Speed change at boundaries causes path deviation.
Change in direction (bending) in a new material. Speed change at boundaries causes path deviation.
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